Jerg, I just want to thank you for all you have done. It was already wonderful enough to post your own impressions and your own observations for HiFiMAN but what is even better is that you take the time to answer so many peoples' questions.

Jerg, I just want to thank you for all you have done. It was already wonderful enough to post your own impressions and your own observations for HiFiMAN but what is even better is that you take the time to answer so many peoples' questions.

I guess what I am looking for is really something with the clarity and detail of the T1, but a beefier bass. Dare I say a "fun" T1? :) I love my T1's, but every time I put on my Denon Ah-D600's at home, I get a kick out of the more pronounced bass.

I think the TH900 and the HE560 complement each other, rather than exclude for any reason. The 560 is more open sounding and more "airy" with the TH900 being a little more intimate, though to me, very open for a closed phone. The bass impact is great on both. Hard call on this. I think, which is unusual for me, that the recording also may benefit from one or the other. Normally I think that a speaker system or headphone should be good with any kind of music. The 560 is very revealing, owing to it more airy signature and if the music is a little jagged, the TH900 may do better. No discredit to the 560, just shows how much the 560 goes with the sound and doesn't cover it up, which to me is a good thing.

Expanding on my thoughts on HE560s vs HE500...I took interest in comparing them again today. What became clear was that after adequate burn-in (both mechanical and psychological), the HE560s' tonal balance actually becomes similar to HE500's, just not as extreme in colouration.

Treble and bass are still much, much clearer and less muffled on the HE560s, but the midrange balance feels rather close, just that HE560s don't have the bloom/glare around 500-1500 Hz that HE500s have, nor do HE560s have the dip in energy around 2kHz suffered by HE500.

In the recent past I would have considered HE560s to feel less grounded in balance compared to HE500, not so anymore. It is just as grounded, just instead of having a meaty, weighted lower end, it has a powerful, explosive lower end.

Another point I may have considered saying in the recent past would have been that HE560s are not as smooth as HE500, especially for vocal music. I now realize that HE500's rendition of vocals is smooth, but not THAT smooth, instead it is partly masked by the muted 2kHz region. HE560s are as smooth-sounding with that consideration. Treble-wise HE560s are brighter but less peaky, so some will probably say its treble is smoother than HE500's, while others will say the exact opposite.

Expanding on my thoughts on HE560s vs HE500...I took interest in comparing them again today. What became clear was that after adequate burn-in (both mechanical and psychological), the HE560s' tonal balance actually becomes similar to HE500's, just not as extreme in colouration.

Treble and bass are still much, much clearer and less muffled on the HE560s, but the midrange balance feels rather close, just that HE560s don't have the bloom/glare around 500-1500 Hz that HE500s have, nor do HE560s have the dip in energy around 2kHz suffered by HE500.

In the recent past I would have considered HE560s to feel less grounded in balance compared to HE500, not so anymore. It is just as grounded, just instead of having a meaty, weighted lower end, it has a powerful, explosive lower end.

Another point I may have considered saying in the recent past would have been that HE560s are not as smooth as HE500, especially for vocal music. I now realize that HE500's rendition of vocals is smooth, but not THAT smooth, instead it is partly masked by the muted 2kHz region. HE560s are as smooth-sounding with that consideration. Treble-wise HE560s are brighter but less peaky, so some will probably say its treble is smoother than HE500's, while others will say the exact opposite.

Just some musings...

Sounds like you are saying that the HE560 is slightly dark. Not as dark as the HE500, but slightly dark. Is this correct?

What amps have you tried with the HE560? I am considering the Emo Mini, Schiit Mjolnir, and Audio-GD NFB-6.

If the HE560 is slightly dark, the Mjolnir might be a good match. What do you think?

Expanding on my thoughts on HE560s vs HE500...I took interest in comparing them again today. What became clear was that after adequate burn-in (both mechanical and psychological), the HE560s' tonal balance actually becomes similar to HE500's, just not as extreme in colouration.

Treble and bass are still much, much clearer and less muffled on the HE560s, but the midrange balance feels rather close, just that HE560s don't have the bloom/glare around 500-1500 Hz that HE500s have, nor do HE560s have the dip in energy around 2kHz suffered by HE500.

In the recent past I would have considered HE560s to feel less grounded in balance compared to HE500, not so anymore. It is just as grounded, just instead of having a meaty, weighted lower end, it has a powerful, explosive lower end.

Another point I may have considered saying in the recent past would have been that HE560s are not as smooth as HE500, especially for vocal music. I now realize that HE500's rendition of vocals is smooth, but not THAT smooth, instead it is partly masked by the muted 2kHz region. HE560s are as smooth-sounding with that consideration. Treble-wise HE560s are brighter but less peaky, so some will probably say its treble is smoother than HE500's, while others will say the exact opposite.